Germination in vitro of Masdevallia ignea Rchb.f (Orchidaceae) from seeds culture obtained through different kinds of pollination

Abstract

Masdevallia ignea Rchb.f is one of the many orchid endangered species and for which a micropropagation protocol has not been described yet. This research was developed based on plants with previous capsule formation belonging to the Jardín Botánico José Celestino Mutis collection. In the Vegetal Tissues Culture Laboratory of the Scientific subdirection, branch of the same Botanical Garden, the effect of the Murashige & Skoog M&S modified and Knudson C environment was evaluated, as well as the GA₃ as growing phytoregulator in the asymbiotic germination of Masdevallia ignea Rchb.f seeds, which were originated from three different kinds of pollination: self-pollination, geintonogamy and cross pollination. Based on the previous results, it was possible to establish that the cellular growing, evidenced by the protocorms formation, was mainly manifested in the processes conformed by self-pollination seeds, their plantation on a Knudson C environment and supplemented with 1 ppm. of GA₃, proved to be the most adequate treatment for asymbiotic germination of Masdevallia ignea Rchb.f seeds.